[photo from Ridge Runners Outfitting]
No not those cougars. Actual cougars. Badass ones that can jump almost 20 feet high and pounce on unsuspecting prey 20-40 feet away. Imagine an animal almost 10 feet long crossing your path! ME-WOW!
Little Known Facts About Cougars 1
- The cougar, also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, holds the Guinness record for the animal with the highest number of names. It has over 40 names in English alone.
- A large, solitary cat, the cougar has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from the Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America.
- Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range. It will also hunt species as small as insects and rodents.
- Cougar size is smallest close to the equator and larger towards the poles.
- Females reach sexual maturity between one-and-a-half to three years of age. They typically average one litter every two to three years throughout their reproductive life. Only females are involved in parenting and they are fiercely protective of their cubs.
- Aside from humans, no species preys upon mature cougars in the wild. The cat is not, however, the apex predator throughout much of its range. In its northern range, the cougar interacts with other powerful predators such as the brown bear and gray wolf. In the south, the cougar must compete with the larger jaguar. In Florida it encounters the American Alligator.
- Like almost all cats, the cougar is a solitary animal. Only mothers and kittens live in groups, with adults meeting only to mate. It is secretive and typically most active around dawn and dusk.
- Cougars have large paws and proportionally the largest hind legs in the cat family. This physique allows it great leaping and short-sprint ability. An exceptional vertical leap of 5.4 m (18 ft) is reported for the cougar. Horizontal jumping capability from standing position is suggested anywhere from 6 to 12 m (20 to 40 ft).
- The cougar can run as fast as 55 to 72 km/h (35 to 45 mi/h), but is best adapted for short, powerful sprints rather than long chases.
There are few states which allow mountain lion/cougar hunts; guided mountain lion hunts are highly recommended if you want to get your cat.
Hunting mountain lions is totally different than hunting for elk, deer, or bear. Your day can begin as early as 3:00 am, you’ll have a light breakfast and begin tracking your prey. Tracking a mountain lion involves driving or snowmobiling, using spotlights, and trying to eyeball a track from many yards away. Once a track is found, dogs are put on it to see if it carries a scent. If so, they’re off and the race is on!
It can take several hours for the dogs to find and tree the cat. Once the cat is treed, the hunter’s work begins – they must find the dogs and the treed cat in time before it escapes.
Featured Guides
Ridge Runners Outfitting - We are baced in Colorado and specialize in Mountain Lion hunts. For most of our clients, Mountain Lion hunting is a once in a lifetime adventure so we try and accommodate each and every one of our clients. We book our hunts for 7 days: that is a day to get here, a day to depart, and 5 days of hunting. We provide the transportation while hunting. We have pickups, four-wheelers with tracks, and horses if we need them. We will pick you up at a bus station, train station, or an airport in Grand Junction, Eagle, or Denver, Colorado. We offer you a place to stay with homecooked meals (included in the cost of hunt) or you may choose to stay somewhere else at your cost.
Mountain Lion hunting would not be complete without dogs! We pride ourselves in the dogs that we have. There is something special about turning a pack of hound dogs out on a lion track and the sound they make as they work a track!
Droptine Guide - We are based in Eastern Utah and cougar hunting may be the most exciting and enjoyable hunt we offer. It can range from deep snow to dry ground hunting. Our dogs have been hunted and trained to trail in all climates and conditions. At Droptine Guides, we hunt out hounds year round to ensure the hunter the best success rate possible. Snow conditions can increase the odds, although it is not necessary for a successful lion hunt. Utah requires a waiting period, you must purchase your permit 3-days prior to your hunt along with a hunting license. When planning a lion hunt, please understand that it can take anywhere from one day to multiple days depending on weather and hunting conditions.
Ready to catch a Cougar? Book your hunt today!
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